title: Ultrasonographic diagnosis of an endocarditis valvularis in a Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) with pneumonia.
abstract: An 11-yr-old Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) was presented with a history of respiratory symptoms. Computed tomography and an endoscopic examination of the left lung were performed and revealed severe pneumonia. Microbiologic examination of a tracheal wash sample and an endoscopy-guided sample from the lung confirmed infection with Salmonella enterica ssp. IV, Enterobacter cloacae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Computed tomographic examination demonstrated a hyperattenuated structure within the heart. Echocardiographic examination revealed a hyperechoic mass at the pulmonic valve as well as a dilated truncus pulmonalis. As therapy for pneumonia was ineffective, the snake was euthanized. Postmortem examination confirmed pneumonia and infective endocarditis of the pulmonic valve caused by septicemia with Salmonella enterica ssp. IV. Focal arteriosclerosis of the pulmonary trunk was also diagnosed. The case presented here demonstrates the possible connection between respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in snakes.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 17, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. schroff@vogelklinik.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schroff
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Ingmar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.forename: Maria-Elisabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Krautwald-Junghanns
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pees
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017821:Boidae; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002442:Ceftazidime